The Tenth Circle by Jon Land is another installment to the Blaine McCraken series, #11, I believe. In this outing McCracken almost singlehandedly (he has some help from Johnny Wareagle and Sal Belamo) almost does the impossible - several times. He begins by ending a nuclear threat in Iran to tackling an even bigger terrorist threat based right at home in the USA. Tied into the threat is the answer to the disappearance of the Roanoke colony and the mysterious word "Croatoan"that was found caved on a tree, as well as the disappearance of the Mary Celeste.

Land has this novel gallop along at a good clip, which includes many short chapters, and has a whole lot going on.

I found myself of two minds while reading The Tenth Circle by Jon Land. On the one hand I pretty much knew what I was going to get when I started reading it. It's an action/adventure thriller with an emphasis on action. On the other hand I actually found myself bored reading it because it didn't stand out amount others in the genre. I understand having a hero who can get things done but McCracken, along with others (Wareagle, Belamo, and Zarrin - a Palestinian assassin) is just too good, too perfect. All of the characters in this book are caricatures.

What this is is a good airplane/traveling book: Something with action; short, quick chapters; better than making small talk with strangers; you won't cry or feel a need to replace it should it get lost in the shuffle (of course now it would possibly be on an e-reader, which I wouldn't want to lose, but I digress.) It does deliver excitement and entertainment, so it is a perfectly adequate book based on my airplane book criteria, but it's not going to stand out heads above the others in this genre.

Recommended - but find it used or at a discount price

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Open Road Integrated Media via Netgalley for review purposes.


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The Tenth Circle is another Blaine McCracken adventure that takes you around the globe. A riveting and action packed novel, beginning to end.

The US is under siege from coast to coast. A fantastic unsolved mystery.

I love the blend of the past with current events. So many familiar things and places were mentioned – a Roll Tide hat, Sherman and Mr. Peabody, a Croatian Indian boy that reminded me of Jacob in Twilight, Boston and Faneuil Hall, the Crazy Horse Sculpture, a ghost ship, a vanished settlement, the Mary Celeste….

I love and hate the characters. I find it so hard to fathom some people’s hatred, especially when they call on religion to explain it.

I like humor with my terrorists and murderers.

Blaine McCracken has several nicknames – McNuts and McCrackenballs had me laughing.

“… I realized…that the craven heathens…have a circle of Hell all to themselves…”

“The Tenth Circle”

I received an ARC paperback copy in return for an honest and unbiased review. ( )

This thriller has some interesting action, a huge cast of characters, and moves right along. The writing is competent. It suffers from implausibility and plot holes. The tie-in with Roanoke and the Mary Celeste seemed intriguing but I found the carry-through less than compelling. Some of the action is just silly--such as when the main character heads toward his foe because he likes things "up close and personal" and then ties the guy to the rollercoaster tracks to enjoy his final scream from afar. Sheesh. No doubt some will approve the wretched evil of the insane reverend, but I thought the overkill shifted the story toward cartoon (and unfortunately, that wasn't the only cartoonish thing).

If you can suspend your disbelief enough, you'll probably enjoy the ride. ( )

WARNING: SOME SPOILERS (not many)

Wow, what a read ! Jon Land takes you on a roller coaster that just will not stop, even if you wish he would ! This is a story that has some roots in reality, remember the preacher down South who was burning the Koran ? Well, Jon takes him into this story and creates a truly terrifying picture of what a madman who is convinced that God is on his side can do. He also takes stereotypes of
neo-cons, embittered ex military types, retired military types, spies, counterspies and creates fantastic story. In this story Blaine McCracken and his sidekick, the Indian need to stop a plot to overthrow the government by Americans. Another borrow from reality, terrorism is coming from within and being made to look like it is coming from abroad. Who's to say that this is not
happening ?

The story goes back and forth between characters, including spies, counterspies, and American history, I loved it

Land takes the reader inside the mind of a truly disturbed preacher, Jeremiah Rule and the reader hopes to God that this is pure fiction. This character is guilty of murders, rape and mutilation, you will be happy to see what happens to him ! Land draws a parallel between his military characters and those in real life who express the sentiment that they "want their country back" . I am never sure what the people in real life want back, but Land seems to have his characters want a country thatg predates 9/11. You'll have fun discovering of they get it.

There is one chapter that had me laughing out loud in another wise dark book and that was the way Land described just how effective retired military personnel can be when they are called upon.

This is a really good book that will start you thinking , could this really happen here ? A friend of mine thinks that this type of book gives the bad guys ideas, I disagree. This book is well plotted and will also give the good guys some ideas. Good job, Mr. Land ( )

One of the best books I've read lately. Awesome cast of characters, very well written and so much action. I actually found myself holding my breath a couple of times while I was reading. If you are a Jack Reacher fan, you'll also love Blaine McCracken. ( )